Act 1, Scene 2, Part 1 Summary

This scene is set in the castle's reception room. Richard, Geoffrey, and John politely argue over who gets to enter the room first, with John eventually winning. As John hangs holly, the three brothers talk about how Eleanor arrived that morning, how she and Richard aren't as close as they once were, and how John is Henry's favorite but how Richard is determined to be king. As they bicker, Eleanor enters, greets them with pointed and clever remarks, and asks where Henry is. When Richard responds with a pointed remark about Henry's being with Alais, Eleanor reminds him that she raised Alais and cares for her a great deal. Eleanor then asks whether Philip has arrived, and when Geoffrey says he's not there yet, Eleanor's comments reveal that she was once married to Philip's father. Finally, she asks how Henry is, and when...